But, though there is reafon to conclude, that thefe were their
thoOghts at that time j yet they could not depart at once from the
evafive condudt to which they had hitherto adhered. Since.when
the Commodore,' on the morning of the firft o f October, was preparing
to fet out for Canton, hi.s Linguift came to him from the
Mandarine, who attended the., thip, to tell him that a letter had
been received from the Viceroy, o f Canton, defiring.the Commodore
to put off his going thither for two or three days. The reality of
this meffage was not then queftioned; but, in the afternoon of
the fame day, another Linguift came on, board, who, with much
feeming fright, told Mr. Anfon, that the Viceroy had expefted him
up that day, that the Council was afiembled, and the troops had
been under arms to receive him j and that the Viceroy was highly
offended at the difappointment, and had fent the Commodore’s
Linguift to prifon, chained, fuppofing that the whole had been
owing to the Linguift’s negligence. This plaufible, tale gave the
Commodore great concern, and made him apprehend that there
was fome treachery defigned him, which he could not yet fathom.
And though it afterwards appeared that the whole was a fiiftion,
not one article of it having the lead foundation j yet (for reafons
beft known to themfelves) this fahhood was fo well fupported by
the artifices of the Chineje Merchants at Canton, that, three days
afterwards, the Commodore received a letter figned by all the fu-
percargoes of the Englijh Ihips then at that place, expreifing-their
great uneafinefs about what had happened, and intimating their fears
that fome infult would be offered to his boat, if he came thither
before the Viceroy was fully fatisfied o f the miftake. To this
letter Mr. Anfon replied, that he did not believe there had been
a miftake; but was perfuaded it was a forgery o f the Chinefe to
prevent his vifiting the Viceroy $ that therefore he would certainly
come up to Canton, on the 13th of Oflober, confident that the
Chinefe would not dare to offer him any infult, as well-knowing
he Ihould want neither power, nor inclination, to make them -a
proper return.
On
On the 13th of Odlober, the Commodore continuing firm to
his refolution, all the fupercargoes of the Englijh, Danijh, and
S-wedijh Ihips came on board the Centurion, to accompany him to
Canton, for which place he fet out in his barge the fame day, attended
by his own boats, and by thole of the trading Ihips, which
on this occafion fent their boats, to augment his retinue : As he paf-
fed by Wampo, where the European veffels lay, he was faluted by
all of them but,the French, and in the.evening he arrived fafely at
Canton. His reception in that city, and the moll material tranf-
aftions from henceforward, till the expedition was brought to a
period, by the return of the Centurion to GYeat-Britaiu, (hall be the
fubjefl of the enfuing chapter.
F f f « H A PJ